Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo: Rome's Second Symbol

The History of Castel Sant'Angelo
Castel Sant'Angelo was originally conceived by the Emperor Hadrian (76 to 138 A.D.) as a mausoleum for himself and his family, and was one of the most imposing structures in Ancient Rome. Work on the mausoleum began in 125 A.D., and was finished in 139 A.D., a year after Hadrian's death. The last emperor to be buried here was reportedly Caracalla in 217 A.D. Over the centuries that followed, Hadrian's Mausoleum was incorporated into the Aurelian Walls in 403 A.D., and was first used as a fortress during the invasions of the Visigoths and Vandals that occurred later that century, in which to save the area surrounding the Vatican people climbed the structure and threw down basically anything they could get their hands on, statuary, urns, and all. Castel Sant'Angelo got the name for which it is known by today in 590 A.D., when it is said that the Archangel Michael appeared above the fortress to deliver the city of Rome from a devastating bout of plague.

From the second half of the 10th century, Castel Sant'Angelo passed through the hands of the various noble families that provided Popes during the Medieval and Renaissance periods, and was used as both a Papal residence and fortress during the many invasions and uprisings which took place over the nearly 1,000 years to follow.  The depths of the castle were also used as one of the most feared prisons in Rome. The structure is now used to house the museum of Castel Sant'Angelo.

Castel Sant'Angelo: What's Inside
Upon entering Castel Sant'Angelo, the long, inclining spiral passage is part of the original mausoleum and leads to the chamber where it is believed that the urns containing the ashes of the emperors and their families were kept. From here you can climb to the first terrace where it is possible to see the original statue of the Archangel (1544) which adorned the cornice of the castle, a work by Raffaello da Montelupo. From here it is possible to visit the adjacent Apollo Room and the unique frescoes that adorn its ceiling, and then on to the private rooms of Clement VII. Be sure not to miss his bathroom, which boasted both hot and cold running water.

The most spectacular hall in the entire castle is the Sala Paolina, used by Pope Paul III (Alessandro Farnese) to greet foreign delegations during his periods of residence in the Castel Sant'Angelo. This room symbolizes Paul III's conviction of the unbroken past, from the Roman Emperors to the Popes, their divine right to rule, and above all the cultural responsibility to embellish and preserve the past for future generations. Literally every inch of the hall is covered in inlaid marble, frescoes, and gold paneling. The last thing to see before leaving Castel Sant'Angelo is the view from the castle's upper terrace, directly over the Tiber and the heart of the Renaissance quarter, arguably one of the best views in Rome.

Castel Sant'Angelo in Context
Perhaps no other monument in Rome has evolved with the timeless city of Rome over the millennia like Castel Sant'Angelo has. The Colosseum is the symbol of the grandeur of Ancient Rome, but for most of its history it has been a shell, and even a quarry for other building projects in more recent centuries. The Roman Forum was almost entirely buried until the early 19th century, and a part of it was used as pasture land until it was fully uncovered in the mid-20th century. The dome of St. Peter's dominates Rome's skyline, but stands more as a symbol of Catholicism than one of Rome. Castel Sant'Angelo is like no other monument in Rome, a sort of living timeline that traces the city's past.

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